In this episode of Silhouettes, I took a trip to Leighton House in West Kensington to chat with curator, Hannah Lund, all about their brand new exhibition: ‘Out Shopping: The dresses of Marion and Maud Sambourne’

In this episode, we discuss the changing fashion landscape of the turn of the century, how personal stories can be unearthed through the study of fashion, and how to preserve and conserve historic clothing for use in museum exhibitions.

‘Out Shopping: The Dresses of Marion and Maud Sambourne (1880-1910)’ unveils the Sambourne House collection of dresses belonging to the mother and daughter, showcasing hardly seen, rare surviving examples by leading dressmakers of the era. For the first time in the history of the museums, the exhibition spans across both Leighton House and Sambourne House, inviting visitors to embark on a immersive journey.

★★★★ Evening Standard Leighton House, the fabulous home of Lord Leighton, the artist, has a fascinating little exhibition of clothes owned by the wife and daughter of the Punch cartoonist, Linley Sambourne. This is brilliant social history!

Book your tickets here: https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/museums/out-shopping

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Dear Gentle Reader,

It has come to this the attention of the podcast, that there is to be a grand ball! All members of the sewing ton are invited to craft their finest garments for this most joyous occasion. Your gracious hosts request the pleasure of your company at this most prestigious soiree. Only one question remains…will you join your hosts for this season's most unforgettable evening of dancing and merriment? ✨

In this episode I am joined by Richy Wedge, lover of 18th century and Regency fashion, contestant on The Great British Sewing Bee, and host of the Bridgetown Ball- who is currently busy sewing an outfit for this joyous a occasion!

Myself and Richy chat all about his personal attachment to regency era clothing, and of course the inaugural event of the season: The Bridge Town Ball, a Regency-style ball, that rather than striving for complete historical accuracy, aims to make an inclusive and enjoyable for all with the tagline Pride not Prejudice 🐝🪡🧵

Listen now to find out more about this wonderful event, and immerse yourself in the joys of regency inspired fashion ✨

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In this exciting collaboration episode of Silhouettes, we're stepping into the immersive world of Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners Shaped Global Style, the captivating new exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands. This episode will offer you, my listeners, a unique glimpse into this remarkable celebration of the Jewish Londoners who played a pivotal role in building London's reputation as a fashion capital.

From Dot Cotton's iconic coat to a Mr. Fish smoking dress, this exhibition illuminates the significant contributions of Jewish designers to London's fashion narrative. Join us as we uncover the tales of these visionary creators, who not only influenced London's fashion landscape, but left an indelible mark on the global stage.

We're joined by Bethan Bide, a design historian at the University of Leeds, and the academic advisor to "Fashion City," and Lucie Whitmore, fashion historian and curator of “Fashion City”. Not only will Lucie and Bethan share their insights behind the curation of "Fashion City," exploring how they navigated the intersections of culture, creativity, and identity, shedding light on their research processes, as well as how they decided to showcase these narratives through the pieces selected for display, they will also guide us through the exhibition, leading you from the doors of a traditional tailor's workshop in the East End to the glittering ambiance of a Carnaby Street boutique amidst the heart of a cultural revolution.

"Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners Shaped Global Style" has been extended for visitors until July 7th, 2024, offering an extended opportunity to immerse yourself in this captivating journey through fashion history.

About Museum of London Docklands

The Museum of London Docklands is located at West India Quay in east London. Opened in 2003, it occupies one of the few remaining original grade one listed warehouses, built in 1802 to store produce from the West Indies.

A shared place in the heart of the East End, where stories cross and collide, it confidently shows how international trade, migration, enslavement and the river Thames were integral to shaping London and the world we live in today.

The museum is open 7 days a week, from 10am-5pm and is FREE to all. You can explore the Museum of London with collections online - home to 90,000 objects with more being added regularly.

Praise for “Fashion City”:

"Brilliant!" - Patrick Grant

"It's the best fashion exhibition I've seen in years" - Alexandra Shulman (Mail on Sunday)

"A thorough and nuanced depiction of the makers of London fashion" - Evening Standard

"Immersive and brilliantly assembled at every turn" -Apollo Magazine

"Expertly crafted" - Glass Magazine

"A must-see for anyone interested in either fashion history or London history" - Amber Butchart

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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In this episode of Silhouettes, I am joined by Elisabeth Gernerd, 18th century dress historian and author of The Modern Venus: Dress, underwear, and accessories in the late 18th century.

This episode continues our Valentines special season all about the history of undergarments, lingerie and underwear.

‘The Modern Venus’ highlights the significance of this element of a woman’s wardrobe in the 1770s and 1780s, detailing how undergarments played their part in transforming fashionable dress at a time when clothes were expanding to both new heights and new volumes, exploring the socio-political power underwear held.

Listen now to find out how, through the use of a range of contemporary sources, ‘The Modern Venus’ unpacks the importance underwear has had as an overlooked garment, defining not just a woman’s silhouette, but it’s social and cultural influence.

‘The Modern Venus’ can be bought from Bloomsbury publishing at the Bloomsbury visual arts imprint here.

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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Disclaimer: This episode focuses on naughtier topics like sex, sexuality, and perceptions towards the female body! ❤️

When used to colour women's lingerie, red's poignant symbolism engages with societal perceptions of feminine sexuality and empowerment, and on this weeks episode I celebrating am Valentine’s Day and talking with fashion historian Summer Anne Lee all about the symbolism, fashionability and societal meaning of red lingerie and underwear in history, focusing on her work for the Underpinnings museum digital exhibition ‘A History of Red Lingerie’ ❤️💋

Incendiary: A History of Red Lingerie tells this story through thirty objects, dating from circa the 1860s to 2017’ So listen now to find out more about just what it means, and what exactly you’re communicating, when wearing wear red underneath your clothes.

‘During some parts of the nineteenth century, fashionable shades of red in women's dress included scarlet, crimson, cardinal, garnet, ruby, poppy, and even a "dull deep hue" called "antique red" (Harper's Bazaar, 1868). Yet opinions of brightly-coloured undergarments were vexed, variously considered abhorrent and improper, or stylish and inflammatory. New associations were formed by the middle of the twentieth century. Lingerie was marketed to women in countless shades of red, including flame, bright rose, spice, cherry, firecracker, and siren. These were considered fun and bold hues to enliven one's wardrobe and were often combined with black for a "dramatic look" (Women's Wear Daily, 1952). Since the sexual liberation movement of the 1960s, red lingerie has developed more romantic and seductive associations, gaining a reputation for being "sexy," "red-hot," "smoldering," and "incendiary."

Listen now to find out more! ❣️

Visit the exhibition: www.underpinningsmuseum.com

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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Personal styling has a rather unique and often complicated history, spanning all the way from the French Revolution to the Advent of the AI assisted styling that we see emerging today.

In this episode, written in collaboration with Sydney Yeager of dressedcodes, we learn just how influential stylists have been in the annals of fashion history, how they have come to define fashion concepts such as ‘dressing for success’ & ‘you are what you wear’ and how they changed the landscape when it came to curating and defining personal style across the world.

This episode of our short history series is in collaboration with Sydney Yeager of ⁠dressedcodes⁠

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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Mirror, mirror, on the wall... On this episode of Silhouettes, we reflect on the fascinating and often fragile history of mirrors. Starting with polished glass, to scientific developments in treated glass, mirrors hold up a reflection to our societies; dictating when, why and how vanity, self-styling and personal care have become important throughout time. Examples include use in Greek mythology, their importance in Roman culture, cultural impact across high society and the important role of empowerment mirrors played during the slave trade.

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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In this episode I am joined by prominent historian Elizabeth L. Block to discuss all things 19th century fashion!

Her book, Dressing Up chronicles how wealthy American women-as consumers and as influencers-helped shape French couture of the late nineteenth and examines the couturiers' influential clientele--wealthy American women who bolstered the French fashion industry with a steady stream of orders from the United States. 

Countering the usual narrative of the designer as solo creative genius, Block tell us just how these women-as high-volume customers and as pre-Internet influencers-were active participants in the era's transnational fashion system. Block describes the arrival of nouveau riche Americans on the French fashion scene, joining European royalty, French socialites, and famous actresses on the client rosters of the best fashion houses-Charles Frederick Worth, Doucet, and Felix, among others.

Block reveals the power of American women in French couture.

Listen now to find out just influential late 19th century France was to American fashion, and how The Gilded Age on HBO has interpreted this in their new hit show.

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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In this Halloween special episode, I’m joined by Katie Godman, author of Gothic Fashion: The History to talk all about her wonderfully Gothic book, as we trace Gothic fashion history from barbarians to haute couture and delve into the long, fascinating and sometimes unexpected evolution of all things Gothic.

We discuss just how Gothic fashion has evolved from its ancient roots to the Victorian Gothic, all the way to the Goth subculture movements of more recent history.

Katie’s book Gothic Fashion: A History is published by Unicorn Publishing and available to buy through their website. Katie can also be found on Instagram from @kittiecostume as well as via Blandford Fashion Museum socials.

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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The imagery of a wicked witch is one we all know well: flowing black robes, pointed black hat, pointed boots and a wooden broom- but have you ever wondered why these specific accessories have become synonymous with the image of a witch?

In this episode I will delve into how, why and when this distinctive attire evolved, tracing the ancient origins of witchcraft to depictions of the green faced wicked witch of the west. Join me on a spooky, magical journey as we learn about the intricate, fascinating and multifaceted history of witchcraft around the world, witchy dress history, and how the iconic imagery of the witch came to be.

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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